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| 2026-04-21 04:11:15
(LEAD) Trump-Iran talks
(LEAD) Trump says new Iran deal will be 'far better' than 2015 nuclear deal
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, April 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday a new deal with Iran that his administration seeks to clinch will be "far better" than the 2015 nuclear agreement struck under former President Barack Obama, as his delegation prepares for a new round of peace talks with Tehran in Pakistan.
In a social media post, Trump repeated his criticism of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), calling it a "guaranteed road to a nuclear weapon." In 2018, the first Trump administration withdrew the United States from the JCPOA.
"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal,' penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"It was a guaranteed Road to a Nuclear Weapon, which will not, and cannot, happen with the Deal we're working on," he added.
He said that if he did not terminate the JCPOA during his first term, nuclear weapons would have been used on Israel and all over the Middle East, including U.S. military bases in the region, while criticizing the "fake news" in support of the JCPOA.
"If a Deal happens under 'TRUMP,' it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else," he said.
"It will be something that the entire World will be proud of, instead of the years of Embarrassment and Humiliation that we have been forced to suffer due to incompetent and cowardly leadership!"
His remarks came as uncertainty hangs over whether a new round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran could yield an agreement following renewed tensions over the U.S.' seizure of an Iranian cargo ship and Iran's vow to retaliate.
For the second round of talks in Islamabad, Vice President JD Vance is set to lead the U.S. delegation, which includes Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance also headed the U.S. team during the previous negotiations that took place from April 11-12.
In a phone interview with Bloomberg, Trump said that Vance would depart for Pakistan later on Monday for negotiations with Iran, which he said are set to start Tuesday.
Trump also said that it is "highly unlikely" that he would extend a two-week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it expires on Wednesday evening (Washington time).
"I'm not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We've got all the time in the world," Trump was quoted by Bloomberg as saying.
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump dangled the prospects of Iran having a "great and prosperous" future, as he ratcheted up pressure on the Islamic Republic to agree to a peace deal.
"Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn't like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing," he wrote on Truth Social. "And if Iran's new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!"
He was referring to a U.S. military operation in January that led to the capture of then Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro for criminal charges, including narco-terrorism.
In the post, Trump argued that Israel never talked him into the war with Iran.
"The results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did," he said.
"I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged."
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